On Aug. 24, Utah’s only Dragon Boat Festival will educate and entertain all in attendance. The Dragon Boat races started in commemoration of great patriot and poet Qu Yuan over 2,000 years ago in China. These races are still held worldwide. Tradition has it that the winning team in these races will be blessed with prosperity and happiness for the upcoming year.

“Teams from schools, communities and corporations are invited to participate. A portion of the proceeds raised from teams’ registration will go to the Asian Association of Utah,” LiveDAYBREAK Recreation Manager Austin Perez said. “The AAU organization helps victims of human trafficking, refugees and asylum seekers to achieve outcomes of substantive improvement in self-sufficiency and thriving lives.”

Twenty four teams will compete in races aboard 40 foot Dragon Boats. This race is intended for novice racers and is a short 200M course. Groups applying to participate will be in either 14 or 20 paddler size boats. Each crew will have a designated drummer to encourage their team.

Land-lovers will have the benefit of watching the exciting races and deciding which on-land activity to choose. This vibrant Asian Festival will showcase calligraphy and engaging cultural activities for children. 

The colorful, eye-catching event will have musicians and dancers. Performances by various groups will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Asian cultural performers from areas throughout the state of Utah will display their many talents.

“This event holds a unique significance as it offers a view into the rich traditions of Chinese and Asian cultures. Attendees have the opportunity to engage in immersive cultural activities, witness captivating performances and watch the exhilarating tradition of team dragon boat racing, all for a charitable cause,” Perez said.

For more details on this event or to register your team, please visit the LiveDAYBREAK Dragon Boat Website. Perez can also be contacted at [email protected] or (385) 630-7844 for any questions. The LiveDAYBREAK planners have worked on coordinating many details to ensure this will be an event community members won’t want to miss. λ